March 24, 2021, at 0930hrs, at Bhakdi Bodin Building, Government House, Prime Minister and Defense Minister Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha chaired the 1/2021 meeting of the National Digital Economy and Society Commission (NDE). Participating in the meeting were Minister of Interior Gen. Anupong Paojinda, Minister of Culture Itthiphol Kunplome (in his capacity as acting Minister of Digital Economy and Society), and Government Spokesperson Anucha Burapachaisri. 

The Prime Minister stressed the Government’s priority to undertake national development in parallel with poverty eradication through adoption of digital technology. At present, progress has been seen on the country’s 5G digital infrastructure development, i.e., high-speed internet network to reach every village in the country (Pracharat Net) which will facilitate the nation’s economic development, AI and robotic development, and adoption of technology and innovation in the operation of all concerned sectors. This is in a bid to drive the country toward ‘Digital Thailand’ and ‘Digital ASEAN’, and for 5G technology to be a key driving force to achieve the National Strategy.

In order to transform toward the e-Government, the Prime Minister also ordered all public agencies to promote inter-agency data integration, use of the Big Data and the Government Data and Cloud service in addressing problems and developing the nation in all dimensions, providing assistance and services to people of all groups/ ages/ occupations, and promoting use of digital among the public. Budget must be optimized and used in a cost-effective and transparent manner to truly generate benefits to the country and its people.

The meeting approved the budget of 500 million Baht for Digital Economy and Society Development Fund (DE Fund) for the mobilization of Thailand’s 5G technology, and the (draft) criteria for expenditures under the DE Fund. Projects eligible for the DE Fund must be approved by the National 5G Committee, and in line with Thailand’s action plan on promotion of 5G technology (Phase 1) and objectives of the DE Fund.

With regard to Thailand’s infrastructure preparedness, Ookla Speedtest, a web service that provides analysis of Internet access performance metrics, has earlier ranked the country’s fixed broadband as world’s no. 1 with the speed of 308.35 Mbps.

The Prime Minister expressed confidence that 5G technology would reinvent Thailand, both in economic and social dimensions, and in the country’s telecommunication, public utilities, transport, agriculture, and public health sectors.